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PIB’S BULLETIN ON COVID-19
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Active Cases decline in all States/UTs in the last month, No death reported in 18 States/UTs in last 24 hours, Recoveries continue to rise; Cumulative recoveries at 1.06 Cr, Nearly 90 lakh COVID19 vaccine doses administered
India’s total Active Caseload currently stands at 1,36,549 today. The active caseload now consists of just 1.25% of India’s total Positive Cases. In a significant development, all States and UTs have reported a decline in active cases in the last month. Maharashtra has shown a substantial decline in active cases from 53,163 on 17 January, 2021 to 38,307 on 17 February, 2021. Eighteen States/UTs have not reported any COVID19 deaths in the last 24 hours. These are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, J&K , Jharkhand, Puducherry, Himachal Pradesh, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Ladakh , Assam, A&N Islands, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and D&D & D&N. India’s cumulative recoveries show a progressive increment on a daily basis. It stands at 1.06 Cr  today. The Recovery Rate is 97.33%. 11,833 patients have recovered and discharged in the last 24 hours. Rising recoveries combined with less new cases have ensured a decline in Active Caseload. 11,610 new daily cases have been recorded in the last 24 hours. As on 17thFebruary, 2021, till 8:00 AM, the cumulative vaccination coverage to healthcare and frontline workers against COVID19 in the country has reached nearly 90 lakhs. 89,99,230 vaccine doses have been given to beneficiaries through 1,91,373 sessions, as per the provisional report till 8 am today. These include 61,50,922 HCWs , 2,76,377 HCWs  and 25,71,931 FLWs . As on Day-32 of the vaccination drive , total 2,76,943 vaccine doses were given across 7,001 sessions. Out of which, 1,60,691 beneficiaries were vaccinated for 1st dose and 1,16,252 HCWs received 2nd dose of vaccine. 8 States account for 57.8% of the total vaccine doses administered in India. Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 10.4% . As on 16th February, 2021, till 4 pm, total 36 cases of hospitalization and 29 cases of deaths have been reported from people who have been vaccinated. Out of the 36 cases of hospitalisation, 22 were discharged after treatment. 2 are still under treatment and 12 persons died. Out of the 29 deaths, 17 deaths are outside hospital whereas 12 deaths are in the hospital. 81.15% of the new recovered cases are observed to be concentrated in 6 States. Kerala has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 5,439 newly recovered cases. 2,700 people recovered in Maharashtra in the past 24 hours followed by 470 in Tamil Nadu. 86.15% of the daily new cases are from 6 States. Kerala reports the highest daily new cases at 4,937. 100 fatalities have been recorded in the last 24 hours. Six States account for 81.00% of the daily deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum casualties . Kerala follows with 18 daily deaths and Tamil Nadu reported 7 casualties.
Multimedia Exhibition Van travelling to create awareness on Vaccination for COVID-19 and Aatmanirbhar Bharat is flagged off at Mumbai
A Multimedia Exhibition Van to create awareness on COVID-19 Vaccination and Aatmanirbhar Bharat has been flagged off by the Principal Health Secretary, Government of Maharashtra Dr. Pradeep Kumar Vyas at the premises of Films Division in Mumbai yesterday. The Director General of Films Division MsSmita Vats Sharma and WHO’s Surveillance Medical Officer Dr. Vivek R. Pardeshi were also present at the flagging-off ceremony.The van will travel to 3 routes in Mumbai, Bandra-Dharavi-Juhu-Andheri-Borivali;Goregaon-Chinchvali-Malad-Kandivali-Charkop-Borivali Dahisar;Kurla-Chembur-Ghatkopar-Mankhurd-Turbhe- Bhandup-Vikroli.Under this campaign, 16 specially fabricated vans with a message will travel across 36 districts of Maharashtra to spread awareness among people. The vans will also display messages through LED screens and these vans will be live tracked through GPS through integrated dashboard which can be accessed at through scanning of QR Code.
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Cereals exports see a sharp jump in April – December, 2020, notwithstanding logistical challenges posed by COVID19
India’s exports of cereals – rice, wheat and coarse cereals witnessed an impressive rise during first three quarters of 2020-21 financial year.As per the data during April-December, 2020, the exports of cereals rose to Rs 49,832 crore from Rs 32,591 crore  reported during the same period in the previous year. The exports of cereals witnessed a rise of 52.90% in Rupee term and 45.81% in US dollar term. The total share of value of cereal exports was 48.61% in Rupee term in the total export of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Exports Development Authority  scheduled products.As per the data during April-December, 2020, the export of Basmati Rice was Rs 2,038 crore  against Rs. 20,926 crore  reported during same period in the previous year. The exports of this aromatic and long-grain rice witnessed a growth of 5.31% in Rupee term and 0.36 % Dollar terms. During April- December 2020 period, the export of Wheat rose to Rs 1,870 crore  against was Rs. 336 crore  reported during the same phase a year back.
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NE Region has received adequate funds from the Centre to fight the COVID-19 Pandemic effectively: DrJitendra Singh
Union Minister of State  Development of North Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that adequate funds were made available to the NE region to fight COVID-19. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, DrJitendra Singh informed that Ministry of Health & Family Welfare released Rs.111.34 crore to the North Eastern  Statesduring 2019-20, which includes Rs.72.53 crore for Assam under National Health Mission towards management and containment of COVID-19 pandemic.
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“AyuSamvad”, the Public Awareness Lecture series of AYUSH Ministry, focusses on Management of Covid19 : AYUSH Minister
Shri KirenRijiju, the Minister of State  of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and additional charge of Minister of State  of the Ministry of AYUSHinformed the Lok Sabha on Wednesdaythat the AyuSamvad Lecture Series campaign will specifically focus on the role of Ayurveda in the Preventive, Promotive, Curative and Rehabilitative Management of COVID 19. The All India Institute of Ayurveda , an autonomous organization under the aegis of Ministry of AYUSH is organizing this public awareness campaign program on “Ayurveda and Covid 19 Pandemic” with the objective to create awareness among common people.
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Use of Homoeopathy medicines in Covid-19 treatment discussed in Parliament
The Supreme Court has upheld the advisory of Ministry of AYUSH in its judgement dated 15.12.2020 and permitted use of homoeopathy medicine as add on to standard care in COVID-19 treatment. This was clarified by ShriKirenRijiju, Minister of State  of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and Additional Charge of Minister of State  for the Ministry of AYUSH to the LokSabha on Friday. The Minister added that while Homoeopathy treatment is not to be given in standalone mode for COVID-19 treatment, the Ministry of AYUSH through an advisory issued in March 2020 and the ‘Guidelines for AYUSH practitioners for COVID-19’ allowed AYUSH interventions including homoeopathy as add on to standard care. He also informed the House that the Ministry of AYUSH has taken many steps with the help of AYUSH systems of Medicine including Homeopathy for COVID-19 related treatment, and cited the Ministry’s advisory issued on 29.01.2020 on “how to protect oneself from COVID and how to stay healthy” .
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Impact of Covid-19 on Agriculture
During the lockdown, the agriculture sector had functioned smoothly. Government of India has taken all necessary measures to ensure smooth operation of agriculture related activities. Farming and allied activities were exempted from the lockdown. Seed, pesticide, fertilizer etc. dealers / shops and other input related activities were allowed to open / free for making inputs available to the farmers. Inter and intra state movement of farm machinery specially combine harvesters was facilitated. As a result of the various steps taken by the Department, both harvesting activities of the Rabi Crop and sowing activities of Summer Crop took place in a systematic manner. Agriculture and Allied Sectors registered a growth of 3.4% during 2020-21 even as the overall economic growth declined by -7.2% during the same period.
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Distribution of foodgrains during lockdown
The total stock of foodgrains in the Central Pool as on 01.01.2021 was 529.59 lakh tons consisting of 342.90 lakh tons of wheat and 186.69 lakh tons of rice. Under NFSA, 2013, there are only two categaries  Antyoday Anna Yojana ,  Priority House Hold  viz. the foodgrains would be distributed as per allocations made under the NFSA.For migrants/stranded migrants, who are not covered under NFSA or State ration cards, allocations of foodgrains was done under AtmaNirbhar Bharat Package  for free of cost distribution by the States during May, 2020 to June, 2020.Government of India also approved supply of foodgrains for those non-NFSA beneficiaries, who have State ration cards for distribution from April, 2020 to June, 2020, @ Rs 21.00 per kg for wheat and Rs 22.00 per kg for rice.
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First time, post-Covid, Railway freight revenue overtakes last year’s cumulative figures in same corresponding year
In a heartening new development, first time post Covid, Indian Railway's cumulative Freight Revenue has surged past last year’s levels and stands at Rs. 98068.45 crore as compared to Rs. 97342.14 to Fy 20-21 in same corresponding.On a month to month basis as well, in first 12 days of February, Railways has overtaken last year’s freight revenue figures by 5%.On a monthly basis, Railway freight revenue has surged Rs. 206 crore ahead in Feb 21 compared to corresponding period Feb last year.
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INPUTS FROM PIB FIELD OFFICES
· Maharashtra: 3,663 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Maharashtra on Tuesday, taking the total number of affected people to 20,71,306. It was the seventh day in a row that the state has reported more than 3,000 Covid-19 cases, after the number of cases were steadily declining till the end of January 2021. Under such a circumstance, Mumbai Mayor KishoriPednekar has warned the people that the city may head towards another lockdown. She expressed displeasure about the careless behavior of the people who are not following Covid-19 guidelines, especially while travelling in the trains.Deputy Chief Minister AjitPawar had also underlined the need to follow Covid-19 guidelines and had also threatened to come out with harsh decisions amid sudden rise of Covid cases in the state. According to the state’s public health department, 2,700 people were discharged on the same day. The total number of recoveries has reached 19,81,408 in the state. The number of fatalities increased by 39, taking the death toll to 51,591. The state currently has 37,125 active patients.Maharashtra’s recovery rate stands at 95.66 per cent while the case fatality rate stands at 2.49 per cent. Maharashtra has conducted 1.53 crore Coronavirus tests so far and the positivity rate stands at 13.45 per cent. With 461 new cases, Mumbai’s caseload has increased to 3,15,030. The city reported three deaths and 340 recoveries during the day.Also, more than four thousand six hundred healthcare workers were given the second dose of vaccine against Covid-19. The second round of vaccination drives for healthcare workers began in Maharashtra on February 15, 2021.
· Gujarat: In Gujarat, over 8 lakh beneficiaries have received the first dose of Covid vaccine so far. The drive to administer the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to health workers began on Feb 15, 2021 . State Immunization Officer Dr Nayan Jani said on Tuesday that 80 percent vaccination of the healthcare and frontline workers has been completed in the state so far. Nearly 5,200 persons were vaccinated for COVID-19 across the 355 booths in the state on Tuesday. Meanwhile, 263 new Covid 19 cases were reported in the state on Tuesday and 271 patients were discharged. According to state health department, state's recovery rate now stands at 97.7 per cent.This apart, Gujarat government has extended the night curfew imposed in four metro cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot till the end of this month.
· Madhya Pradesh: The state reported 233 new COVID-19 cases, 221 recoveries and 3 deaths on Tuesday. With this, the total cases have gone up to 2,58,082 and total recoveries to 2,52,385 while the death toll stands at 3841. There are 1856 active cases at present. Maximum cases were reported from Indore , Bhopal, and Jabalpur  on Tuesday.
· Chattisgarh: The state reported 250 new COVID-19 cases, 24 recoveries and 5 deaths on Tuesday. With this, the total cases have gone up to 3,09,623 and total recoveries to 3,02,935, while the death toll stands at 3783. There are 2905 active cases at present. Maximum cases were reported from Durg , Raipur, and Rajnandgaon  on Tuesday.
· Rajasthan: The state reported 90 new COVID-19 cases as on Tuesday. With this, the total cases have gone up to 3,19,065 and total recoveries to 3,15,027 while the death toll stands at 2781. Total samples collected is 61,11,693 as on Tuesday
· Goa: 48 new cases were reported in Goa on Tuesday, which takes the total number of cases to 54,323. The number of active COVID patients is 504. The recovery rate of the state is 97.63%. The second phase of the vaccination drive began on February 9. In this phase, frontline workers, that is, the police force, home guards, revenue personnel, officials from municipalities & panchayats are to receive their first shot of the vaccine.
· Assam: In Assam, total COVID-19 cases rise to 2,17,309 with 5 new cases detected on Tuesday. A total of 14 patients also discharged yesterday. Total discharged patients 2,14,615 and 1089 total death. Active cases 258.
· Nagaland: In Nagaland, 1 new COVID-19 case was detected on Tuesday. Total cases rise to 12190 and active cases 41.
· Sikkim: In Sikkim, 3 people tested positive for COVID-19 and 1 recovered on Tuesday. Total cases rise to 6121, total discharged 5834 and 56 active cases.
· Kerala: The genome sequencing conducted by the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology has found out that thirteen Coronavirus variants that have undergone mutations capable of evading the body's immune system have been detected in Kerala. Of this, the variant 'N440K' calls for more caution. The Election Commission of India, headed by Chief Election Commissioner Shri. Sunil Arora which recently visited the state to review the preparedness for the upcoming assembly polls said, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of polling booths would be increased to 40,771 from the existing 25,000. The CEC also said that polling officials would be provided with Covid kits and administered with Covid vaccine on priority basis. The EC has expressed satisfaction over with the preparedness to tackle the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 death toll has crossed 4,000 in the state. The test positivity rate stands at 6.64 percent. There are now 60,761 active Covid-19 cases in the state
· Tamil Nadu: As on date, Tamil Nadu recorded 8,46,026 total cases, 12,432 deaths, 4206 Active cases and 8,29,388 discharges.
· Karnataka: As on date, Karnataka recorded 9,46,6076 total cases, 12,273 deaths, 5860 Active cases and 9, 46,076 discharges. Karnataka has made it mandatory for passengers arriving from UK, Brazil and South Africa to produce RTPCR negative report before boarding flights. They also have to additionally undergo another test after landing and negative RT PCR report mandatory for those coming to state from Kerala.
· Andhra Pradesh: As on date, Andhra Pradesh recorded 8,88,959 total cases, 7163 deaths, 615 active cases and 881181 discharges
· Telangana: Administering of second dose of Covid vaccine to the health care workers who have already taken first dose has begun on 13th of this month in the state and till yesterday a total of 53,144 health care workers have received the second dose. The cumulative number of people including Govt, Private health care workers and frontline workers who have taken the first dose as on yesterday stands at 2,79,518. Number of Covid cases in the state  reached 2,96,950 and the number of fatalities 1620. Number of recoveries stands at 2,93,690. Out of 1640 active cases in the state, 641 are in Home isolation.
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